Glad you found us Ralph!
I can't speak to swaps more than 7 years ago, so I don't know if it's the same group or not.
We generally have 2 plants swaps each year, one spring and one fall. Someone volunteers to host the swap at their home. We have found that it not only spreads the work around the group, but it also gives us a chance to visit other member gardens.
As far as the plants, we do pre-arrange some swapping here through the 'seed swap tool'. The current swap is located at
Mid-Atlantic Gardeners 2021 Spring Plant Swap .
We also encourage people to bring extras and last minute finds to the swap. We set up two tables, a 'free to good home' for plants, and a door prize table.
The 'free to good home' table is for extra plants and stuff, while the door prize table is more for the drawing later in the day. Each member pulls a number out of a hat/pot/whatever. We then go in turn to pick something from the door prize table. After everyone has had a chance, the rest it up for grabs.
There are two highlight of the swap. (As though free plants aren't enough!) The first is the chance to meet everyone face-to face (or, mask-to-mask) and catch up on each others lives. The best part though is the pot luck lunch. Everyone brings a dish, hot or cold, to share from the buffet table.
When all is said and done, you leave with a full belly, a vehicle load of new plants and great memories.
The only warning I would give is that you have to keep a close eye on your pile of plants. It has been known to happen that you end up taking home a stray that wandered into your collection.
